2.3 Explain how increased dependence affects individuals, carers and the provision of services

This guide will help you answer 2.3 Explain how increased dependence affects individuals, carers and the provision of services.

Increased dependence means a person relies more on others to meet everyday needs. This may be due to illness, disability, injury, or age. People who were once able to live independently might need help with personal care, household tasks or managing money. Increased dependence can happen slowly, as with some long-term conditions, or suddenly following an accident or illness.

This guide covers the effects of increased dependence. It covers the impact on the individual, those providing care, and service providers.

Effects on Individuals

Increased dependence brings many changes to a person’s daily life, self-esteem, and wellbeing.

Emotional Impact

Needing more help can change how someone feels about themselves. People may experience:

• Loss of confidence
• Anxiety about their health or future
• Embarrassment about needing help with personal care
• Depression caused by loss of independence
• Frustration at reduced control over daily routines
• Fear of being a burden to family and friends

Accepting increased dependence can be very difficult, especially for people who value self-reliance or privacy.

Practical Impact

Daily life may now depend on others for:

• Washing, dressing, and toileting
• Meal preparation and eating
• Taking medicines
• Getting around inside and outside the home
• Managing appointments, finances, and shopping

Increased dependence can mean waiting for a carer’s visit or lacking flexibility to do things at preferred times. Routines often have to change.

Social Impact

Greater dependence can lead to:

• Less ability to take part in social activities
• Risk of isolation and loneliness
• Losing contact with friends or the local community
• Reduced access to hobbies and interests

Social withdrawal may result from mobility problems, embarrassment, or the effort needed to organise support. Some feel left out or forgotten.

Loss of Choice and Control

Depending on others often means restrictions on making decisions. People needing care may have to fit in with staff rotas, carer timetables or the choices made by relatives.

Losing control over simple choices—such as when to have a bath—can be stressful and undermine self-respect.

Physical and Health Risks

Reliance on others may delay personal needs being met, such as help to use the toilet. This can lead to discomfort or even health problems, for example urinary tract infections, pressure sores or falls.

People who are less active due to dependence may lose muscle strength, lose weight, or develop complications from sitting still too long.

Effects on Carers

Carers are people who provide support to individuals with increased dependence. They may be family members, friends, or paid professionals.

Emotional Strain

Carers often feel a mix of rewarding and difficult emotions, such as:

• Worry and stress
• Sadness at seeing a loved one lose independence
• Frustration at the time and energy required
• Guilt if they feel unable to do enough
• Anger if care responsibilities are shared unequally in the family

Supporting someone closely can affect the carer’s own mental health. Carer burnout (exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed) is common.

Social and Lifestyle Changes

Providing regular care may mean:

• Giving up work or reducing hours
• Less time for personal interests, rest, or seeing friends
• Sacrificing holidays or nights out
• Changes in family routines

This can lead to social isolation. Carers may neglect their own needs, which can affect their wellbeing.

Financial Impact

Family carers often spend money on transport, equipment, medicines, or adapting the home. Leaving work to care for a relative can affect family finances. Carer’s Allowance is available, but it may not cover all costs.

Some carers have to juggle work, care, and family commitments, which can cause further stress.

Impact on Relationships

Taking on a caring role changes family dynamics. For example, a son or daughter may now help a parent with very personal tasks, which can be awkward for both. Couples can find their relationship changes from equal partners to carer and cared-for.

Tensions can arise between siblings or relatives sharing responsibility. Disagreements may occur over what care is needed or who should do it.

Health Impact

Carers often experience:

• Lack of sleep
• Physical strain, especially with lifting and moving the individual
• Increased risk of stress-related illnesses

Carers sometimes ignore their own health needs as they focus on the person they look after.

Effects on the Provision of Services

Health and social care services play a key role in supporting those with increased dependence and their carers. Increased demand for help brings several challenges.

Increased Demand for Services

More people needing support leads to higher demand for:

• Home care workers
• Day centres
• Respite care (breaks for carers)
• District nurses
• Occupational therapists
• Equipment (such as hoists, grab rails, wheelchairs)
• Telecare or monitoring services

Services may become stretched, especially with funding pressures or staff shortages.

Waiting Times and Access to Support

People may wait longer to get assessments or home visits. Delays in providing equipment, adaptations, or care packages can put extra pressure on families and carers.

Some regions have more services than others, which affects consistency of care.

Care Planning and Coordination

Services must work together to provide joined-up support. This means health staff (like GPs, nurses) must share information with social care workers, physiotherapists, and organisations providing equipment or home help.

Good care planning ensures the right help is given at the right time, minimising risks and anticipating future changes.

Need for Personalisation

Individuals with increased dependence have different needs and preferences. Services must listen to what matters to the person and fit care around their routines, wishes, and culture.

This includes supporting choice in:

• Who provides care
• When care is given
• The type or style of care or equipment

Personalised care improves satisfaction and outcomes. It helps preserve dignity and independence as far as possible.

Safeguarding and Protecting Individuals

Greater dependence sometimes means greater vulnerability to abuse or neglect, either accidentally or deliberately. Services must train staff to spot signs of harm and respond quickly. Regular reviews and visits help make sure people are safe.

Support for Carers

Carers need practical and emotional support to carry on. This can include:

• Training in moving and handling or first aid
• Information about benefits and legal rights
• Access to respite care and breaks
• Emotional support, such as counselling or support groups

Providing support for carers means individuals are more likely to remain in their own home and avoid hospital or care home admission.

Resource and Funding Challenges

Meeting the needs of people with increased dependence and their carers puts pressure on funding, staffing, and facilities. Local authorities must balance budgets. Sometimes, eligibility criteria for free support become stricter.

Limited resources may lead to:

• Fewer carers per person
• Tighter time-limits for visits
• Harder access to equipment or adaptations

This can reduce choice and flexibility for individuals and carers.

Example: Caring for an Older Adult with Dementia

An older person with worsening dementia may no longer remember to eat, take medicines, or manage personal care. Family members may become full-time carers, juggling work and care. They may experience sleep disruption if the person is awake at night.

Social services may provide home care, day services or short breaks, but demand for these is high. All involved must work closely to protect the older person’s safety and dignity.

Example: A Young Adult with a Spinal Injury

A young person with a severe spinal injury may need help with all activities, such as washing, dressing, and moving. Specialist services provide equipment like hoists and accessible bathrooms.

Family may support them, but paid carers visit daily. Respite care gives family a break. The services involved need to work together, keep the young person at the centre of decisions, and plan for future needs.

Final Thoughts

Increased dependence changes the lives of individuals and those who care for them. Individuals may face loss of independence, emotional ups and downs, fewer social opportunities, and sometimes health risks. Carers are affected emotionally, physically, financially, and socially.

The provision of services must respond flexibly, balancing increased demand with available resources. Personalised support, careful coordination, safeguarding, and supporting carers are all key. Understanding the effects of increased dependence enables health and social care staff to provide better, more sensitive care for everyone involved.